2023 Progressive Snapshot Review

Yes. Progressive Snapshot can raise your rates, unlike the usage-based insurance programs offered by some other major auto insurance providers. Roughly 20% of drivers see their auto insurance rates increase after using Snapshot, according to Progressive. Good drivers save an average of $145 per year with Progressive Snapshot, however. Plus, in most states, new Progressive customers get an automatic discount just for participating in the Snapshot program (an average of $26), though the discount expires when it's time to renew your policy. The sign up discount is not available in Alaska, California, Hawaii, North Carolina or New York.

For those who aren't familiar, Progressive Snapshot is a usage-based auto insurance program that uses telematics to monitor and analyze driving information, like the time of day, distance and a driver's acceleration and deceleration habits. Progressive uses that data to personalize customers' insurance rates based on their unique driving habits. To participate in Progressive's Snapshot program, you must either download the mobile app or use a GPS device that plugs into the OBD-II port of your car, which is usually found under the steering wheel.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Progressive Snapshot Raising Your Rate:

• Limit rapid acceleration and braking
• Avoid driving between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Avoid driving on weekends
• Stay off your phone while driving
• Drive less overall (carpool if you can)

Enrollment in the Progressive Snapshot program is free and available in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. You can sign up for it online or by calling an agent at 1-877-329-7283. Just note that if you ever decide to opt out of the Snapshot program, Progressive retains the driving data and analytics information it collects indefinitely.

Yes, Progressive uses telematics through Snapshot, a program that tracks a customer's driving habits using a plug-in device or the mobile app. Customers can sign-up for Snapshot and receive a discount if they consistently practice safe driving.

What Progressive Telematics Tracks

• Miles driven
• Acceleration
• Braking
• The time of day that you drive
• Distracted driving (app only)

In order to use Snapshot, drivers need to either plug the device into their vehicle's OBD port or have the mobile app running in the background. The mobile app will automatically log trips when it detects driving activity as it's connected to internet and the user has enabled background app refresh and location services. After the tracking period has ended, the discount will be applied when you renew your policy. Keep in mind that if you practice bad driving habits while using Snapshot, Progressive may raise your rate instead of giving you a discount. Currently, Snapshot is available in all states except California and North Carolina

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to usage-based insurance.

No, Progressive does not offer a specific low mileage discount. Progressive premiums do take mileage into account, however, as rates are an average of 23% lower for customers who drive 7,500 miles annually than for customers who drive 15,000 miles annually, according to WalletHub data.

Low mileage drivers usually save on their Progressive premium because less time on the road means a smaller chance of filing a claim. Besides offering lower premiums for low mileage drivers, Progressive offers good student, safe driver and homeowner discounts, among others.

It's also worth noting that Progressive has a usage-based insurance program called Snapshot, which can help low mileage drivers save money. Snapshot tracks mileage and other driving habits, saving policyholders an average of $145.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Progressive discounts.

Progressive pay-per-mile insurance costs an average of $145 less than a standard six-month policy. Progressive does not have pay-per-mile in its most literal form, where customers are charged a low base price plus a per-mile rate. But Progressive Snapshot is a usage-based insurance program, which is one form of pay-per-mile insurance.

With usage-based insurance like Progressive Snapshot, your driving is monitored using your smartphone or a plug-in device provided by the company. Progressive adjusts your premium every time you renew your policy based on actual driving habits like:

• Total mileage
• Late-night driving
• Hard braking and accelerating
• Distracted driving

It is possible your rates could increase with high-risk driving, but 8 out of 10 drivers see their rates go down with Progressive Snapshot, per the company's data. You could also save $26 on your premium right away, just for signing up. But this discount isn't available to drivers in Alaska, California, Hawaii, North Carolina, or New York. Progressive offers specific details about what you can expect from Snapshot in each state on its website.

You can sign up for Snapshot when you purchase your policy or by calling 1-877-329-7283.

You can get a Progressive safe driver discount by signing up for Snapshot, the company telematics program. With Snapshot safe drivers can save an average of $145 on their rate by allowing Progressive to track their habits on the road. Specifically, Snapshot tracks miles driven, acceleration, braking, the time of day that you drive, and distracted driving.

If you don't want to sign up for Snapshot, Progressive offers other ways for you to save on your premium. For example, drivers can get a multi-car discount by insuring more than one vehicle in their household.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Progressive discounts.

Yes, Progressive Snapshot does track speed using a smartphone app or a plug-in device. Snapshot also raises rates for poor driving, so drivers who have a habit of speeding may want to reconsider using this telematics program.

What Progressive Snapshot Tracks

• Speed
• Hard braking
• Mileage
• Phone use

In addition to raising your rates due to speeding while using Snapshot, Progressive will increase your premiums for things like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents and moving violations since these activities are reported on your driving record and could classify you as high-risk. As a result, practicing safe driving is the best way to keep your premiums low.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's full review of Progressive Snapshot.

Progressive is so cheap because it offers a wide variety of discounts and gives consumers tools to acheive the best rates possible, such as Progressive's price comparison tool and their Name Your Price® program. A minimum coverage policy from Progressive costs an average of $54 per month, and Progressive premiums can be made even cheaper by taking advantage of discounts such as continuous insurance discount and paperless discount. Plus, Progressive rewards customer loyalty with discounts for insuring more than one car and bundling multiple policies, such as home and auto.

Average Monthly Rates for Progressive vs. Top Competitors

Note: Premiums are representative of a 45-year-old good driver in CA; individual premiums will vary.

Progressive is especially cheap for safe drivers in particular. That's because Progressive has special savings opportunities for drivers in this category, such as lower rates for drivers who have not had any accidents or tickets for at least three years.

Your final premium is based on a variety of factors, though, such as your driving record, insurance history, and more. Every insurance company determines their rates differently, so even though Progressive is among the cheapest car insurance companies, the only way to confirm you've found the lowest price is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's review of Progressive and see Progressive's full profile.

You can lower your Progressive car insurance costs by taking advantage of Progressive discounts, opting for a higher deductible, and reducing your coverage, among other things. Progressive considers a variety of factors when calculating your premium, though some – like your age and location – are out of your control. Fortunately, you can take steps to influence other factors in order to lower your rate.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance from Progressive

Use Progressive's auto insurance discounts

Progressive offers a wide variety of discounts that can help you lower your overall car insurance bill. For example, drivers can get a discount of up to 5% if they have two or more policies with Progressive. Or you can save an average of 10% on your premium if you add a full-time student on your policy who maintains a "B" average or better.

Raise your car insurance deductible

Opting for a higher deductible on any of your insurance policies from Progressive can lower your premium. But if you decide to go this route, it's important that you choose a deductible amount that you can still afford if you suddenly need to file a claim. Otherwise, you might not be able to use the coverage that you have.

Reduce your car insurance coverage

Most states require a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. But there are other coverage options (like comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist) that you may not have to purchase, depending on your state. Less coverage usually means lower premiums, but it could also lead to higher costs in the long run, so it's important to approach coverage decisions with caution.

Improve your driving record

Practicing safe driving habits and avoiding moving violations can help you qualify for lower Progressive insurance rates long-term. You may also be able to attend traffic school in order to remove a violation or points from your record, depending on your state.

Build and improve your credit

Because your credit history is correlated with your likelihood of filing an insurance claim, Progressive uses your credit data to calculate your premium in states where it is legal. As a result, having good credit makes you less of an insurance risk, which will reduce your rates over time.

Drive less

Whether you can shorten your commute to work, use more public transportation, or even ride a bicycle more, driving fewer miles each year could lower your Progressive premium.

Drive an insurance-friendly car

Expensive cars, sports cars, and cars with high rates of theft are considered to be riskier to insure than cheaper, more practical vehicles. Before you buy a new car, get a new quote from Progressive to see how it will affect your rate. If the cost is out of your budget, then you should probably choose a different car.

Sign up for Snapshot

Snapshot, the Progressive telematics program rewards you for good driving with a discounted premium. Specifically, Snapshot tracks miles driven, acceleration, braking, the time of day that you drive, and distracted driving. By using Snapshot, drivers can save an average of $146 on their rate.

Finally, if you're still struggling to afford your Progressive policy, you should consider switching insurers. Even if you're not actively looking for a new policy, it's generally a good idea to compare quotes from three different companies every 6-12 months. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to switching car insurance companies.

Progressive does not advertise a defensive driving discount on its website, but you may still be able to get one. Progressive may lower your rates by about 5% if you complete an approved defensive driving course and meet certain qualifications. You may need to be a certain age, have a clean driving record, take the course voluntarily (not by court order), or meet other state-specific criteria to be eligible. You'll have to speak to a Progressive representative directly to find out the rules where you live.

Most defensive driving courses can be completed online and cost between $15 and $40. Live classes can cost as much as $100. But the cost could be worth it since you'll get a discount for three years, in most cases. At that time, you should be able to renew the discount by taking the course again.

The closest thing to a Progressive dash cam discount is a 5%-18% discount on your auto insurance policy if you agree to share your Samsara data directly with Progressive. Samsara is a technology company that tracks driving habits using telematics equipment like GPS monitors, in-vehicle alert systems and dash cams that use artificial intelligence

While Progressive does not specifically offer any other dash cam discounts for auto insurance at this time, it does offer a variety of other loyalty and good-driver discounts, such as multi-policy, multi-car and continuous-insurance discounts. Progressive also offers policy discounts for teens, good students, distant students and homeowners, as well as discounts for customers who set up automatic payments and agree to get Progressive documents through email.

While having a dash cam installed in your car seems like it would make providing proof for insurance claims much easier, none of the major U.S. insurance companies currently offer true dash cam discounts. Instead, Progressive and other insurance companies rely on telematics technology to electronically monitor certain driving habits. This is usually done using a phone app or a black box device that is installed in one's car. Progressive's Snapshot program (technically called usage-based insurance) uses telematics to adjust your rate based on your driving behavior, and drivers save approximately $145 a year on average using the program.